As the festive season approaches, here’s everything you need to know about the storied and nearly foolproof evening essential. Plus: Insights into the LBD’s fraught relationship with Holly Golightly’s cat—and how it compares to LBJ.

Less than a half-hour at the stove is all it takes to cook up this clambake from chef Mike Wiley of Eventide Oyster Co. in Portland, Maine. He recommends you eat it with your hands and plenty of cold beers.

“How do you feel about seasonless dressing-- the trend where men and women wear white jeans year round, where women wear sandals and men don't wear socks, and many people just add a few layers instead of wearing a heavy winter coat? ”